Another Intermittent Failure Code Thread

[Slideshow]

Legal Disclaimer: I haven't gotten my hands on a Durametric yet, and I live several hours from the nearest Porsche dealership... go easy on me.

Spent a weekend washing the car and I suddenly had a Fault Message pop up when I turned the ignition on (before starting the engine).

It appears in the combination display on the tachometer. It shows an image of an box with a lightning strike or electrical ground and says something like, "System Fault. Visit service center." When I pull the on-board computer lever to acknowlege the message, the red exclamation point stays illuminated on the tach face.

Double checked all my fluids (oil, hydraulic, brake, coolant, windshield wash), gas cap, tires, xenon-light-leveling, and everything else I could think of.

Pressures and temps all appear okay.

The message stays on at idle and during acceleration. It turns off some times when I slow down or corner to the left with any force, and then returns when I start to accelerate or maintain speed.

It seems as if it is related to a fluid level sensor because of this behavior.

Any ideas? (I'll be calling Durametric this week...)

2005 Carrera S Coupe

Manual Transmission

CD-changer--no Nav

Non-Sport Exaust

30k miles

Edited March 22, 2010 by Slideshow

[Loren]

Try calling Durametric as that is the software company that makes the diagnostic tool.

Durametric Software, Inc.

61451 Parrell Road

Bend, OR 97702

888-854-5523 (toll free in North America)

619-561-2196 (international calls)

541-550-2260 (Fax)

Office Hours:

8:00 am to 5:00 pm PST

(Monday through Friday)

Without fault code(s) everything is a guess.

[RFM]

I assume that what you call " a fault message pop up" was a text message, but you have not mentioned exactly what the message contains. It should help if you do that, then maybe we can help you to find out in which control box the fault is stored, DME, comfort, combi instrument, etc.

[Slideshow]

Sorry, it appears in the combination display on the tachometer. It shows an image of a box with a lightning strike or electrical ground and says something like, "System Fault. Visit service center." When I pull the on-board computer lever to acknowlege the message, the red exclamation point stays illuminated on the tach face.

Watching the exclamation point turn on and off intermittently based upon whether I am decelerating or turning left makes me believe this is related to a fluid level. (Like watching an old-school fuel gauge rise and fall based upon centrifugal forces affecting the fuel in the tank.)

I had a local guy plug a Snap-On "Ethos" DME reader in. The only thing he could make sense out of was a "$ 11" message. The only thing that I can relate that to is either, (a) a variable cam timing problem or (b ) "position of camshaft in relation to crankshaft, Bank 1 Below limit".

Neither of those problems makes sense to me, given the intermittent nature of the fault code while driving (or that the error comes on even before I start the engine).

Durametric cable is on the way...

Edited March 22, 2010 by Slideshow

[RFM]

This warning (lightning) refers to "multiple systems fail" go to workshop, i would do that to be sure.

[Slideshow]

So far, all I can see is: C152 (air bag) Message Timeout PSM Steuergeraet (“Tax Device”) ???

While I was waxing the front bumper (near the driver's-side headlight) I thought I heard a "click" as the bumper deformed slightly (and then sprung right back into position). The first thing that went through my head was "an airbag is going to go off". But, the key was in my pocket and the car was parked. I passed it off as my imagination, but then the "Fault" message.

Could I have triggered an airbag sensor with the car off and the key in my pocket?!

[RFM]

It's a fact that the front airbag sensors are located under/in front of the head light frames left and right, anyway, i've never heard a story like yours, the sensor can be triggered, in case of accident, but the airbag should have a confirmation from the control box to go off, in other words, the impact should by strong enough. If i were you, i let read out/check the car with a PIWIS.